The Royal Dozen: Lorenzo de' Medici - The Magnificent

Lorenzo was a key member of the House of Medici, a powerful Florentine family. Nicknamed the Godfathers of the Renaissance, de Medicis began their days as common merchants and seductively wove their way into political power through a combination of violence and patronage of the arts.

Lorenzo, a patron of the arts and humanist learning, supported Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, and Michelangelo and spurred the renaissance.

The artwork depicts Lorenzo in a forest setting. Often enjoying the hunt in the rich Tuscan countryside, Lorenzo can be seen day dreaming on the forest floor, with a fox resting over his shoulder. His costuming laced with pearls and gems symbolising the rich merchant history of de Medici family.